Lehr Propane-Powered Eco Trimmer

A little bit ago, we reviewed the Craftsman Propane Trimmer and really liked it. The Craftsman tool states that it is 'Powered by Lehr," and a little research uncovered the fact that Lehr is a company that has found a way to power a 4-stroke engine with propane. Seeing the benefits of this, they put their technology in a string trimmer called the Eco Trimmer and they also licensed the know-how to Craftsman who released their own model (which, again, we reviewed here). From what we understand, the two trimmers are nearly identical, so if you're interested in getting an EcoTrimmer, check out our review of the Craftsman.

Like the Craftsman, the Lehr is available in both curved and straight shaft. Both cost about $200 which is a lot for a trimmer, but when you think about it the benefits may outweigh the initial down payment.

Learn more about Lehr at www.golehr.com

Curved Shaft Trimmer at Amazon
Straight Shaft Trimmer at Amazon

Personalized Stanley FatMax 25' Tape Measure

Since everyone at the job site seems to have the 25' Stanley FatMax Tape Measure, it's not shocking that we somehow always end up with someone else's at the end of each day. We just saw that Stanley offering to personalize one for you so this sort of thing doesn't happen. The personalized tape costs about $32, which puts it at about $12 more than the one that we get at the local hardware store every six months, which is a pretty steep increase. In addition, the name looks like it's on the sticker part of the tape, which is exactly the part that we've usually destroyed by the end of the first week. Lately, we've had luck 'personalizing' our tape with a can of neon marking paint.

At Finlay Direct

The Tool Snob Editorial Department

Just so we're all clear on why there are so many typos at this site....

Toolmonger's 7000th Post

Toolmonger, the older brother of the tool blogs just last week posted up their 7000th entry. They've been around the longest, but still, this is an insane mile marker. To put things in perspective, we put up, on average, one post every Monday through Friday. At our current rate, we would need almost 27 years to make it to our 7000th post. 27 freakin' years! To say that there is a lot of activity over there is an understatement.

We've met Chuck and Sean and have to say that they're really great guys and we give them a big round of applause for all of their efforts over at Toolmonger. So go and check out the 'Toolmonger 7000th Post Retrospective" at their always impressive site.

Toolmonger 7000th post here.

Wagner Power Painter Plus and Wagner Project Sprayer - Review

Wagner SprayTech has recently released a number of hand held paint sprayers and they were nice enough to send two of them our way for review purposes. That was months ago. Since that time, we've used every available excuse to not get around to reviewing the items...but they're going to be really messy....it's going to take a long time to figure out how to use them....there's going to be paint everywhere....it'll take three hours just to clean everything...and so on. About a week ago, we'd had enough procrastinating and carved out an afternoon to investigate the Power Painter Plus and the Project Sprayer. And at this point, we now feel we owe Wagner a huge apology for thinking that their little sprayers were going to be a hassle. They weren't. In fact they're pretty easy to deal with.

Both of the items have the same look and feel. Sort of like a screw gun with a big plastic udder hanging off it. The basics of operating them includes filling up the canister and, after plugging the sprayer in, pulling the trigger. That's really all there is to it. You can toggle between a vertical spray or a horizontal one by moving the nozzle to the appropriate position.

Using the sprayers takes a little getting used to, but not as much as we had thought. We're not used to sprayers, so if you're in the same boat, we suggest getting a sheet of 1/4" ply wood and painting it until you feel confident with the sprayer. After about 20 minutes of this, we got good at laying down a nice, even spray.

Of the two models, the Power Painter Plus is the more feature-laden and thus has more versatility. In addition to the plastic canister, the Power Painter Plus also comes with a hose, which allows you to siphon paint right out of a can. This is good for a few reasons. One, you don't have to worry about continually refilling the canister during larger jobs and two, you're now free to tilt the sprayer up at something. While using the canister, from time to time, we would tilt the gun to paint the underside of something which would cause the paint level to go below the siphon and thus leave the gun literally spitting out paint, which was not good for the paint job. To ensure that this doesn't happen using the hose method, Wagner has supplied a little clip that holds the hose in the paint can, so it stays in place. There is also a backpack assembly, sold separately, so ladder work is possible with a larger volume of paint.

It's worth noting that the Power Painter Plus also comes with a carrying case.

Setting up and using the guns is easy enough, but how about clean-up, the bane of any painting project? It's actually not too bad. The process involves pretty much taking the tool apart and making sure that every little piece gets 100% cleaned. The Power Painter Plus comes with a special canister cover that allows you to place all the small pieces in the canister and then connect a hose up to it in order to cycle water through. We tried it out, but discovered that two 5-gallon buckets were just as good for us. We tested the sprayers out with a latex paint, so clean-up was all done with soap and water. Oil paint, on the other hand, involves thinner which would likely complicate matters to the point where we would probably end up throwing everything away at the end of day one.

So, in the end, are they worth it? Well, it depends on what you're painting and how much patience you have to handle things like the spraying learning curve and the clean-up process. If you're going to be doing some interior walls, you're insane to consider using a sprayer (check out Wagner's TurboRoll instead - our review here). But if you need to deal with things like shutters, lawn furniture, or a picket fence, then definitely consider one of these sprayers.

The Project Sprayer runs for $60 while the Power Painter plus will set you back $85.

Project Sprayer at Amazon
Power Painter Plus at Amazon

Northern Tool 2009 Fall/Winter Master Catalog

Finally, a tool catalog so badass it has to be delivered in a cardboard box. And it's freakin' hardcover! To us, the Northern Tool catalog marks the seasons more reliably than the solstice. Even though it's still about 97 degrees where we live, the fact that the Fall/Winter catalog just hit means that it's time to start thinking about the first stages of buckling down for the winter. Should we pick up a generator this year (after being without power for six days last December)? Is it time to get one of those tent vehicle enclosures? Should we stop wearing white, now that the Fall/Winter catalog is here? These are some of the thoughts prompted by the arrival of one of the best tool catalogs out there.

And it's not just tools. In fact, power tools only take up 27 of the 591 pages here. The rest is packed with automotive, heating, storage, hydraulics, and on and on and on.

Order your free catalog here.

DeWalt Impact Ready Accessories

We knew that Milwaukee recently released a set of bits specifically designed for impact drivers, but we had no idea that DeWalt already had their own version in stores. DeWalt's new line of accessories is called Impact Ready and, like Milwaukee's Shockwave, they're built to withstand the relentless beating that impact drivers administer.

The breakdown on the accessories is here (as well as a full list of what's available) and the press release is after the jump.

A selection of the accessories is at Amazon and likely at your local Home Depot.

Continue reading: "DeWalt Impact Ready Accessories"

Omni Dual Saw

We don't watch much TV, so we're not really up to date with the "As Seen on TV" crowd. In fact, until he died, we had no idea who Billy Mays even was. Well, it turns out that the man was capable of selling a refrigerator to an Eskimo and one of the items he was pushing was the Omni Dual Saw. Again, we had never heard of the tool until a few guys on the site started asking if anyone had any experience with that "little saw with the two blades?"

We looked into it and that's pretty much what it is; a little saw with two blades. It looks about the size of the Crocodile Saw, or an angle grinder, or that little trim circ saw that Porter-Cable has. The cool thing here is that the blades rotate in opposite direction which minimizes any kickback. This feature also allows the user to move the saw forward and backwards without any change in the saw's aggressiveness. Apparently, the saw can cut through brick, metal, wood, plastic and whatever else you throw at it.

We also just noticed that Craftsman has a similar item (that's been on the market for a few years) called the Twin Cutter. The Twin Cutter has a larger blade (6-1/8" vs 5") and a more powerful motor (7.8 amps vs 3.4 amps) than the Omni. Even with the extra HP and blade, the Twin Cutter costs less than the Omni, coming in at around $150

At Simply As Seen on TV

Craftsman 25cc Propane Trimmer Powered by Lehr - Review

Looking at things mathematically, our lawn might be one of the hardest in the world to mow. There are curved flower beds everywhere, terraced lawns, railroad tie retaining walls, granite retaining walls, and moss beds a plenty. There are also some horseshoe pits and some homemade benches that we made with a chainsaw a while back. Pretty much every possible obstacle to the easy-to-mow grid is out there somewhere. Since nothing is on a straight line and there's stuff everywhere, once we put the mower away, we're only half way done. It's now string trimmer time, or as we like to call it, "fight with the 2-stroke engine" time.

Craftsman is looking to put an end to some of this agony with their 25CC Propane Trimmer (powered by Lehr). It's exactly what it sounds like, a string trimmer that runs on propane as opposed to gas.

Continue reading: "Craftsman 25cc Propane Trimmer Powered by Lehr - Review"

Some Good Ads from Stihl

Stanley Fubar 30" Forcible Entry Tool

With a name that only appeals to firemen and career criminals, Stanley's 30" Forcible Entry Tool is one of the newer additions to their stud bending, nail ripping, sheetrock destroying Fubar line.

Along with the standard nail-pullers, 2x jaws, and demo hammer, the Forcible Entry Tool comes with a few features specific to emergency responders. It's got a hydrant wrench, a gas shut-off wrench, as well as heat-resistant grips.

It all sounds good to us and it costs about $150, which is a hefty amount of dough (about the same as we paid for the boots that we're currently obsessed with). If you like the idea, but want something a little smaller, check out the Channellock Rescue Tool.

Because it's such a specialty item, it's only available at select retailers. The list is at Stanley.

Red Wings 606 - Day One

If you read this site with any regularity, you might know about our recent search for a new pair of boots. We ended up getting a pair of Red Wings...the 606 model. We chose these because they are nothing more than a boot. No insulation, no fancy grommets, no waterproof baggie in the lining, no steel toe. Just high-quality, seemingly well made boots.

We just got through our first work day in them and are pretty damn happy about our decision (dropping $150 on anything tends to make us nervous). They're extremely comfortable and the fact that they're going to break in, leaves us convinced that they're going to fit like a second skin in about a week. We'll likely give more updates as time goes by (because we know you're extremely interested in our footwear selection), but if the first day is any signal, we may be on the Red Wing wagon for a long, long time.

Red Wing 606s at Red Wing

How It's Made - Levels

We found this little video over at the Johnson Level website. It describes the process of making a level. It's about five minutes and it's pretty interesting if you've got the time.

Johnson Levels at Amazon

Instant Switch

Instant Switch is a way to activate (and deactivate) any outlet from a remote location. To use it, all you have to do is plug a little gizmo in any outlet and then plug in your light, computer, etc. into the gizmo. Now, place the switch anywhere you want to (within 60 feet) and it now controls the light via a wireless signal. The switch has a dimmer on it as well.

We're not big fans of overhead lighting, so we tend to have lamps all over the place. The only problem is that we spend quite a lot of time wandering around dark rooms feeling for the switches (and stepping on the cats). That said, something like this might be nice to have.

Instant Switch costs just over $20.

At ThinkGeek and Amazon

Via ThinkGeek

Black & Decker EM100B Power Monitor

The Black & Decker Power Monitor allows you to observe your home's electricity consumption in real time. To set it up, you just have to clamp a little sensor on to your electricity meter and do a quick calibration at the monitor and off you go.

The monitor keeps an ongoing projection of your monthly bill which means it actually tells you your usage in a dollar amount. There's also a feature that tells you the power consumption of individual appliances. According the Black & Decker, use of the Power Monitor can result in habit changes which can knock as much as 20% off your electricity bill.

Although we see the benefits of this device, we're pretty sure that it would drive us crazy in no time. By the end of the first month we would start assigning cost amounts to every household task that uses electricity. "Well, if I don't toast my bagel this morning, I'll be 12 cents ahead of my projected electricity bill." "Honey, do you really need to blow-dry your hair this morning, if you don't, we could save 19 cents?" "Maybe if we turned the TV off during commercials, we could save 6 dollars this year." There are some things we're better off not knowing.

We checked the Amazon reviews and although most are very positive, there is some incompatibility with certain types of electrical meters. Amazon has a chart of which ones are compatible and which aren't.

The Power Monitor costs about $100, which, if what they say is true, it's money that could be made back in no time.

At Amazon

Gator Drywall Sanding Head & Zip Sand Block - Review

Over the years, we've learned that there are a few secrets to making nice drywall joints. The first is to not be shy with the joint compound; for a while we would try to use as little as possible which would leave us with a little ridge along the tape line which would easily telegraph through our usually rushed paint job. Since you want to blend in the joint with the wall, the more width on the compound joint, the better (duh). It also helps if you use a large knife when applying putty so your patch will be as even as possible. Along these lines is the second trick, which is to use a large sanding block. This way, the sanding is also even and smooth (again, duh).

Gator has just released a new Drywall Sanding Head that's great for this application. In addition to being a solid 4" by 10", the Gator sanding head is smaller than the paper that's made for it which softens the edge for sanding, which is nice and leads to a very smooth finish. The sanding head is also available with an adapter for a broom handle so you can hit the ceiling with no problem.

Gator has also released a new sanding block that uses adhered sandpaper as opposed to putting the grit directly into the sponge. This leads to a longer lasting grit and less 'gumming up.' We were skeptical about rinsing out the new sponge, but we did it a number of times and it appeared to have no negative effect on the grit. It's also compatible with the Gator Sponge Holder (our review here). This is all good, but we found one major oversight in the design and that is the lack of a gritty surface on the sides of the sponge. We tend to use sponges to sand all kinds of uneven shapes and usually this includes utilizing the corners, faces, and sides, but here with only the two large sides of the item usable, this is quite a bit more difficult.

The sanding head is available on its own or as a part of a nice looking drywall sanding kit which is at Amazon

More information on both items at ZipSander.com

Tool Nut

It looks like the online world will, at some point soon, have a new tool retailer. Tool Nut is a family-run business out of Yorktown Heights, NY and they're just getting a web presence going. Right now, the site is just a static placeholder with some great deals, but you can shoot them an email and get on their newsletter list. We've been getting it for a few weeks now and the prices are really nice.

At Tool Nut

Xtend & Climb Telescoping Ladder

While we were flipping through the latest Extreme How-To (a magazine that we love and would recommend to anyone), we noticed an ad for the Xtend & Climb Telescoping ladder. Having lived in some very cramped apartments, we're particularly sensitive to those of you with zero storage and thought that this product was worth a mention.

The Xtend & Climb is a compact ladder that is capable of extending, step by step, into a much larger ladder. Sort of like an extension ladder that starts at about 3' and can make it, depending on the model, up to 15-1/2'.

There are a number of different models that have different safety ratings and extend to varying heights. They do have job site ready models with a ANSI rating of 1A, which means that they can handle up to 300 lbs of your twinkie-eating ass.

This kind of ladder would be good for anyone from the apartment dweller to the homeowner to the traveling handy-man. With the kind of durability and storage capabilities that the Xtend & Climb has, it could be useful to actually anyone who is in the market for a ladder.

As far as price goes, it looks like a wash. The Xtend & Climb 780P, which is comparable to a standard 16' extension ladder sells at Amazon for $249.99. The Werner 16' Extension Ladder with the same safety rating goes $249.25, so unless you're really into penny pinching, it's the exact the same price.

Xtend & Climb Ladders at Amazon

Ryobi P580K 18-Volt 4" Wet/Dry Tile Saw

If you're like us, you saw this image and thought, "sweet, finally a circular saw that comes with its own roll of toilet paper!" But unfortunately, tool technology isn't that advanced yet. What you're looking at is the latest in Ryobi's 18-volt li-ion line, a wet/dry tile saw. The roll of toilet paper is a water bottle that you fill and *boom* wet saw capabilities.

The tool has a on/off toggle for the water but in all other respects it appears to function like the 18-volt circular saw that Ryobi has had on the market for a couple years.

This one looks really useful to us. Having that kind of portability with the built-in water dispenser just seems like a tile/stone guy's fantasy. Just think of what this thing could do with a blue stone walkway or a slate floor...

The saw costs about $200 and that's for the saw, one battery, the blade, and a charger.

At Home Depot

Ryobi TEK4

It looks like Ryobi has a new 4-volt battery on the market and a number of interesting tools to go with it. Rather than looking at the 4-volt battery system as a smaller version of the 18 and 12-volts, they're looking from the bottom up, treating it as more of a pumped up AA battery. This thinking results in some unique tools that have uses beyond home improvement.

A handful of these new tools are measuring devices, an area that both Bosch and Milwaukee have recently moved into as well. With their new system, Ryobi has an infrared thermometer, a distance measure, and a multimeter. They also have a plumb/cross laser lever, a LED flashlight, and a portable power source, which is similar to the Milwaukee 12-volt Power Port that we're big fans of.

In the 'things we've never seen before' category, Ryobi is offering a 4-volt camera, noise suppression headphones, a motion sensor with an alarm, and a digitally keyed lock.

It's all very interesting and with Ryobi's placement at the giant orange store, this is likely to be a winner of a line. Hopefully, Ryobi's ability to serve up a quality tool at a great price will avoid these items from becoming VPX'd.

More information on Tek4 at Ryobi
TEK4 Tools at Home Depot

DAP PRO Caulk 4-Piece Caulking Tool Kit - Review

One of the first articles on Tool Snob was about the Caulk Buddy, a little caulking tool that comes with one of the Newborn caulking guns. We liked it because it was something, other than our finger, that could make a nice caulk bead. With this in mind, we were particularly interested in testing out the DAP PRO Caulk Tool Kit (As seen on TV!). What it is is a series of little tools that have different radiuses, ranging from standard to 90 degree to a variety of mm sizes (5 to 16). There's even a little nub on one tool that is meant for grouting tile joints.

To test out these items, we banged together two pieces of 3/4" ply at a 90 degree angle and dropped a ragged bead of caulk along the joint. First, we took the standard corner and ran it down the bead. The results were nice and about what we're used to using the finger and rag method. Although this time, our finger stayed clean and there was no rag needed. We were also once again reminded of how much caulk can be wasted by seeing the amount left on the tool. Then, satisfied that the PRO Caulk tools could at least measure up to the old way of doing things, we pumped out a huge line of caulk in order to test out the larger size beads. This time, the results were something that we wouldn't be able to do with a finger and a rag. We started with the 10mm size and got a perfectly even bead with one quick pass of the tool. We then tested the smaller sizes by running them over the same bead, making it smaller and smaller. All of the other sizes we tested had an equal amount of success. As always, click on the image for a larger pic.

And that's the real glory of these little tools. You can make very consistent beads of 'non-finger' sized caulk joints. Sure, you can make a nice standard bead and it's less messy than using a finger and a rag, but you can also play around with different sizes depending on your aesthetic tastes as well as the functional needs at hand. We think these tools are really successful at what they do.

The kit also comes with a caulk removal tool that has all sorts of edges and angles to get in and under crusty old caulk beads. It would be a good item to have if you're redoing the seal on your kitchen sink or something. There is also a mini-tool with all of the smaller sizes. All of the tools are plastic and thus easy to clean off and DAP guarantees them for five years.

These are good tools to have and perfect for that milk crate in your garage marked, "painting and caulking." As a carpenter, we're going to toss ours in the box of finish tools that we carry around. Not only are they a quick and easy way to make your caulk beads look good but they also give a much wider repertoire of making consistently sized caulk beads. The tools are available with a small tube of caulking and run about $18, which we think is a little on the high side (we were hoping for the $10-$12 range), but they are quite useful.

The kit of tools is available with a small tube of caulking at Amazon

July 2009 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob

While we admittedly blew off a lot of last week, we cranked during the other three. At the beginning of the month we were looking at a pretty large back log of tools to review, but now we're only looking at a few (which you'll be seeing in the next week or so).

But of the seven items we reviewed, singling one out for the tool of the month is a difficult task. We really liked the EZY Hang Door Lifter, the Bosch DareDevil bits are fantastic, and both the LogJaws and the CH Nailer have their high points, but the big prize has to go to the Milwaukee 12-Volt Power Port for the simple fact that it has now saved our ass on more than one occasion. Worrying about the charge on our cell phone is now a thing of the past as long as we have this little guy tucked behind the driver's seat.

We also want to thank everyone who chimed in on the Chippewa/Red Wings conversation. Reader Greg was the winner of the random drawing, but all of the comments were very helpful. We've been leaning towards the Red Wing 406s, and PutnamEco's comment may have pushed us over the edge. Thanks guys.

Tool of the Month

• Milwaukee M12 Power Port - Review

All Reviews

• Campbell Hausfeld Angled Finish Nailer - Review
• Milwaukee M12 LED Worklight - Review
• Bosch DareDevil Spade Bits - Review
• Ezy Hang Door Lifter - Review
• Bosch R2-P2 Driver Bit - Review
• Rockwell LogJaws (JawHorse Accessory) - Review
• Milwaukee M12 Power Port - Review

Air Tools

• Campbell Hausfeld Angled Finish Nailer - Review
• Bosch Finish and Trim Nailers Available

Benches, Stands, and Storage

• SawGear
• Ezy Hang Door Lifter - Review
• Rockwell LogJaws (JawHorse Accessory) - Review

Bits and Blades

• Bosch DareDevil Spade Bits - Review
• Bosch R2-P2 Driver Bit - Review

Clothing

• Chippewas or Red Wings?

Cordless

• Milwaukee M12 Power Port - Review

Distractions

• 'Hammered' Apparently No Longer Means 'Drunk'
• Contractor Demos Wrong House
• Tool Snob Wins Coveted 'Tool Talkie' Award
• Websites We Like: There I Fixed It

Glues and Adhesives

• WD-40 Trigger Pro - Review

Hand Tools

• Ezy Hang Door Lifter - Review
• FastCap Pocket Chisel

Lithium-Ion

• Milwaukee M12 Power Port - Review

Magazines

• Woodworker's Journal: How to Build a Bamboo Fly Rod

Measuring & Marking

• Modified Square

Monthly Roundup

• June 2009 Monthly Roundup for Tool Snob

Painting

• Gator Zip Sand-BLOCK

Power Tool Accessories

• Bosch DareDevil Spade Bits - Review
• APC Power-Saving Surge Protector with LCD Timer
• SawGear
• WD-40 Trigger Pro - Review
• Bosch R2-P2 Driver Bit - Review
• Rockwell LogJaws (JawHorse Accessory) - Review
• Milwaukee M12 Power Port - Review

Promotions

• Dremel is Giving Accessories Away All Day Long
• Tool Snob Interviews Tools.com
• Paslode Contest Ends This Week
• Win a Custom Motorcycle from Skil

Safety

• APC Power-Saving Surge Protector with LCD Timer

Sanding

• Gator Zip Sand-BLOCK

Sharpening

• Rockwell LogJaws (JawHorse Accessory) - Review

Tool News

• Tool Snob Interviews Tools.com
• Tool Snob Wins Coveted 'Tool Talkie' Award
• Craftsman Wants Your Ideas

Work Lights

• Milwaukee M12 LED Worklight - Review